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No images may be copied, reproduced or distributed in any manner without written permission.I will grant you permission to link or post any of my images on your site as long as you credit it and link back. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2016, Corina S. Alvarezdelugo, unless otherwise labeled.

23.12.09

My parents are having their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday and I wanted to create something special to give them on that day. So I went on digging through some old pictures I have in a box. As it turned out, I not only found what I needed to create something for them but other pictures as well. This pictures I used to create 4 more artworks. But today I'm going to show you three of them... it's kind of a series. People can buy them by themselves or as a group. Here they are:

They are made using encaustic on 6" x 6" wood panels. I have transferred the images into the encaustic and then I fussed it to it with the heat gun. I then used the scribing technique to imprint lines through them. Enjoy!

9.12.09

I spent two nights in a row creating two books that I want to display as my portfolio during my upcoming Solo Exhibit in January. Two nights where I only slept 1 hour the first night and 3 hours on the second night, but the good thing is that I managed to make them both. The first one is a compilation of most of my sculptures arranged in two chapters (From the Animal World - From the World Around Us), plus a first chapter with information about the process involved when I create each one of my pieces. The second book is about my mixed media work, compiled as a catalog form.

I'm very excited that I just can't wait to see the printed version of them!!! I'll let you know as soon as I get them...

and... yesterday morning, after no much sleep, I was still in my creative mode so I couldn't stop my self not even to have breakfast. So I added a new mixed media work to my collection. Here it is:

4.12.09

After you saw the picture of me working on the third painting the other day, you won't believe how it ended up.

As it turned out, the paper I used for this piece is not really recommended... I couldn't even pull it without getting it ripped as I was gluing it down, it shrank, and it broke. When dried some pieces got unglued and the paper became hard as cardboard. So I had to tame it down with some water and more glue. But when it was all set and done, I didn't like the way it looked and to top it off I tried to transfer some words into the surface and as I was varnishing the piece, the ink spread...what a mess!

Now, imagine the work trying to rip the paper off after it had a coat of varnish on top... so I re wet it to loose it up and only a few pieces came off. So I kept on trying until I started liking what I was seeing. Then, I had the idea to paint with acrylics to make it look as something old, like copper would do. Some greens here and there and VOILA! The painting is done! Enjoy!

2.12.09

This morning I started working on a 20' x 20' canvas. I wanted to make one more painting related to my Family Tree series but not part of the series. It's just that I loved working on that technique so much that I keep going back to it. But this is my last one in this style... at least for now.

I started as always, tracing, cutting and pasting...

me at work!

My studio is a mess! sorry about that, but my January solo is keeping me very busy... no time for cleaning up and organizing for now!!

In the afternoon, in between driving kids around and doing laundry at the local Laundromat, I managed to finish this two mixed media paintings with encaustic:

P.S.: I apologize for the quality of the pictures but I want to post them as I finish them, usually late at night, so I don't have great light for pictures... I"ll post better pictures on my web-gallery soon. Keep checking!

30.11.09

I started working on this painting last week, but couldn't go on because I ran out of paint, Crimson Red to be exact; and when I finally bought the paint it was in the middle of Thanksgiving... and you know how that is... the cooking, the cleaning, the guests, more cooking and more cleaning!!!! OF COURSE! there is also the laughter, the joy to be surrounded by family and dear friends, being thankful to God for all He has given us. I can't complaint!
So tonight, I went back to work and finished this mixed media painting on canvas that measures 36" x 36"... or at least I think I finished it!! I might change my mind tomorrow, when I have better light...

29.11.09

I've been working on these two 12" x 12" paintings, they are done on copper sheets mounted on wood composite. I painted on them using vinegar, sea salt, and acrylic paint and applying over transferred images. Here are the results so far...

This is the first time I work on copper sheets and didn't really know how to approach it. So, I use materials that I thought would react with the copper and the results are great. I just love the blue-green tones. Any other suggestions?

24.11.09

I've never worked on a series before, but I loved so much the technique I used to create my piece Family Tree, that I made it into a series of 6 paintings, 12" x 12" each. Three of the canvases are 1 1/2 deep and the other three are 2 1/2 deep. So, when I hang them at my exhibition in January there will be a nice visual effect. Here the pictures,

16.11.09

I have been invited to exhibit my work at the Paul Mellon Arts Center Gallery, in Wallingford, CT, next January 2010. I have enough sculptures to bring but I need more of my paintings to go along. It is a large space and they have many walls to fill. So I've decided to try to paint non-stop everyday until the Holiday break in December.

Last week, I spent it preparing a few canvases to work on. Applying texture to the background, then I applied Gesso on them. So now they are ready to start working on them. So, today I went right to work. I already had the idea of what I wanted to paint on one of the canvases. I had taken a picture with my cellphone a while ago and even do the picture was fussy I just loved the effect, so I saved it. The picture was my inspiration and here is the end result, enjoy!

15.11.09

Once again, another political piece, I know, but is all part of my story... I started this one after witnessing the electoral process in my home country, Venezuela.

Unfortunately, there is not such a democracy in Venezuela as one might think, and that is something very sad to experience. But my piece is about HOPE, as "a house divided against itself cannot stand," and is only in unity that we will achieve our freedom.

2.11.09

I took a piece of canvas and started making wavy lines using the same three colors, just mixed up different in order to get a variety of gradations. I wanted to get the effect that some of the wavy lines were on the front plane and others were receding. To my surprise, one of the lines looked to me as the silhouette of a person. So I added a piece of hand-made paper, the same color as the one I was using with some red paint added to it, made to look as the person had a broken heart.

Still I wasn't happy with it. It needed something else to make the lines recede more, it needed more depth. It was then I decided to use encaustic. So I glued the canvas to a piece of wood using encaustic and then added some more encaustic to the top of the canvas. Playing with the amount of wax I was adding here and there until I got the desired effect.

To finish the piece I transferred into the encaustic the words: "How can you mend a broken he..."

This piece was finished right before Open Studios at the beginning of October. I hung it up the first day at Open Studios and somebody came in and felt in love with it. He came later in the day and decided he wanted to buy it but he needed to get his check book from his car. I thought he was kidding! But not, five minutes before closing he came back and paid for the painting and left me HEARTBROKEN!!

For those of you who are artists you know how our works are like babies and we like to keep them for while before seeing them part away, so you can understand how I felt to see this piece leave so soon. But I'm sure it found a nice home where it's going to be cherished!

19.10.09

From October 22nd through November 22nd, I'll be one of over 30 artists participating in The "Kitchen Art Show" at The Stony Creek Gallery and Co-Sponsored by www.shorelineoutandabout.com/"(a website dedicated to promoting our shoreline)

This special exhibition will have on display artworks suitable for a kitchen, a dinning room and more, ...and a portion of proceeds will be donated to the Community Dining Room, an agency committed to feeding the hungry, serving the CT Shoreline.

Begin this art adventure with the FREE Two-Day Outdoor Arts Festival on the waterfront of Clinton Landing, south of Clinton Andrews Memorial Town Hall.

After the Arts Festival, purchase your Weekend Pass for only $10.00 and head out on the Trail with a colorful program and map in hand to explore the private studios of well-known artists throughout the Shoreline. They will be discussing, demonstrating and selling their work.

28.9.09

Once again I'll be taking part of the City-Wide Open Studios in New Haven. This event has been celebrated for the past eleven years, and as always, it draws thousands of visitors to explore New Haven's neighborhoods while discovering artists, galleries, and the treasures of this beautiful city.

City-Wide Open Studios celebrates contemporary art in all its myriad forms, and is undoubtedly Connecticut's leading visual arts event. Art dealers and curators from the region and beyond have used CWOS as a resource to discover new artists, plan upcoming shows, and buy art. As one of the largest Open Studios programs in the country, CWOS connects hundreds of local artists with the Greater New Haven community.As described on the CWOS website.

I find her questions very thought provoking as I'm sure many of you artists out there, like me, have thought about them many times. In this way, I want to share my response to her questions with you, so you know a little more about me.

Renee Phillips asked:"Artists who create original two-dimensional art, where do you sign your art work, on the front, back or both? What is the general consensus? Assuming there is a current trend regarding signature placement, do you follow it? Is it important to you to have your name visible on your art work? Do you place the date of your piece on the back of the painting? What material or medium do you use to sign?

My response:I'm always debating on what suits best with the piece I'm working on. But as a general rule, I like to have my signature visible and no date. I sign and date the back as well, just as an added bonus. In this way, the buyer is certain that's buying an original piece of art.

In any case, if I feel the signature is going to be in the way, especially when working on mixed media, in a more abstract way, I try using a color that will blend with the rest so it does not take away from the message I want to convey. Sort of inconspicuous. Even sometimes I have no other option, but to limit my signature just to the back of the piece.

Now, when I’ve done landscapes and other realistic themes I would sign in a diagonal, somewhere in the lower portion of the canvas, preferably on the right, but some times on the left (depending on where it fits best). In this cases, I like to use a solid color (blue, gray, or brown) depending on what matches better with the particular piece, and sign it, using a very fine brush, so it's not too bold ("in your eye".)

However, this practice, which I don't regret, caused me an entry to an exhibition. The juror just couldn't get over my signature, as I was told. He would’ve wanted me to sign discretely at the bottom of the canvas instead, as old masters used to do it. Well, it was a Plein Aire exhibition, what would you expect?

My thought is that your signature is one of your assets, that can set you apart from the rest of the artists out there, is what identifies you as you. So unless you have a very distinctive and unique style that speaks for itself and tells the world it's yours, your signature is your second best tool.

Imagine if someone would have told Picasso not to sign big and bold and anywhere he pleased?

Picture use to probe a point
from http://www.squidoo.com

I feel that, when you make your signature recognizable, you're then freer to experiment with new ideas and techniques, to try different mediums and approaches, and your creativity will have no limits. It is your signature what, at the end, will tie everything together as your body of work…your legacy. Just like Picasso did!

Going back to my Plein Aire exhibition incident, I guess I was just starting to get bored of seeing everyone in the field painting the same "scapes", that my signature became my "escape", what made me ME, identifying my little seascape as MINE. Besides, it kind of balanced that piece ;)

Regarding Renee's question on the material or medium one uses to sign with; it all depends on the media I'm working on. I use oils if the painting was done in oils, acrylics if it was done in acrylics, and sometimes archival ink markers (very fine) when working on paper collages. Now, when making hand pulled prints (printmaking), I sign those the traditional way, at the bottom right, below the printed area, with a sharp clean pencil. The signature on the back of the painting also depends on the material used as substrate to hold the painting: Paper = pencil; Canvas = fine ink markers; Wood = Sharpie... What I cannot stress enough is the importance of being consistent with how I sign.

I would love to hear your comments, please feel free to post them here!

31.8.09

Once again, I will be one of the artists participating in this exhibition this year since my sculpture, "AS ONE" was selected amongst many artworks by this year's juror Judy Birke, Art Critic of the New Haven Register, Art Appraiser, and owner of Judy Birk Art Consultants LLC

5.8.09

I received a phone call today to let me know my sculpture Rhino has been awarded the Joseph Gaultieri Cash Award at The 53rd Regional art exhibition at the Mystic Arts Center. I'm so excited about it and I wanted to share it with you!

This exhibition was juried by artist Carolina Pedraza, Head of Youth & Family Programs at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, a national leader in the exhibition of challenging contemporary art and the emergence of mid-career artists.

If you are near by, don't miss it! You won't only be able to see my work first hand, but also get to enjoy of a very nice setting, with views of the Long Island Sound (water), sip some good coffee or tea and munch on their tasty sandwiches and desserts.

I have two sculptures accepted into this exhibition, which I'm very proud to be part of. There is a wide variety on mediums and techniques shown through out the exhibit from artists from all over CT. The Juror of Selection and Awards for this show was the artists and President of the Salmagundi Club in NYC, Claudia Seymour.

17.6.09

Join us on Thursday, June 25th as we walk the line on the Cutting Edge from Firehouse Gallery where a juried show begins at 6:00 pm. If you attend you can participate in the judging for People's Choice Award. What a great way to get to know the artists! As you continue on the line it will take you to Urban Antique Radio & Vintage Hi-Fi where you can purchase a piece of the past. The connection continues to Walnut Beach Cafe where contemporary artist Corina S. Alvarezdelugo is exhibiting her striking work. Make your way along the path to Fine Affair where you can pick-up that gourmet cooking utensil you needed. The line continues to Lazy Lobster for you to have a taste of contentment as Collected Stories inter-twines from story line to story line. A hop, skip and jump away SoBoBo awaits your company for an evening of discussion about the work of more than 24 artists and artisans that just amazes everyone who visits. And of course Walnut Beach Creamery serving delectable ice cream treats that only adds to the flavor of the evening.

Bring your family, bring a friend and enjoy the company of old and new acquaintances!

14.6.09

As promise, here is my update on this exhibition...Jurors, Janice Sands (Executive Director of Pen and Brush Galleries in New York City) and Renée Phillips(Founder and Director of Manhattan Arts International and member of the International Association of Art Critics) selected the three sculptures I submitted for the show as Best in Sculpture, among with other six from six other artists. As you can see, there were only 9 sculptures chosen from which three are mine, so I'm very pleased about it!!! You can view the selected artworks by clicking on Best in Sculpture at http://www.manhattanarts.com/GalleryAnd... to top it up, I received a second place cash award for my sculpture work. Here is what juror Renee Phillips said about it on her statement: "I selected Corina S. Alvarezdelugo for the $75 Cash Award because her sculpture addresses HerStory with bold simplicity and versatility."

On Renee Phillip's letter to me it reads: "Congratulations! Your entries were outstanding and both Janice Sands and I were in agreement about selecting your work for the "Celebrate HerStory" online group exhibition on the Manhattan Arts website... After putting up the online exhibition I (Renee Phillips) took time visiting each wiener's website and upon seeing the rest of your work, it was clear you should receive one of the Manhattan Arts International special awards..."

13.6.09

Opening Night at the Arte Gallery in New Haven was a great success!This is the first art exhibition I have ever curated, and thanks to Daniel Diaz and David Greco from Arte Gallery and to my fellow artist friends/daughter who believed in me, we had a great turnout and people were very happy to be there enjoying the Latin music by Clodomiro Falcon and his group, the good food, drinks and above all, GREAT ART!!!

Pictures are worth a thousand words... Enjoy them!

Me and daughter MariaCorina both very happy exhibiting our works that night,along with Nora Kolbowski, Sikiu Perez and Maragarita Rodriguez-Lansberg

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

Welcome to a Fine Art Blog by mixed media painter and sculptor, and art instructor Corina S. Alvarezdelugo. Please, feel free to look around and browse the archives. Comments and questions are welcome and always answered. I can be reached by email as well at: